Salary: $88,056.00 - $164,940.00 Annually
Location : King County - Seattle - Downtown Business, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Attorney General's Office
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 7/23/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

The WA State Attorney General's Office's Social and Health Services (SHS) Division has an opening for an attorney Team Leader located in downtown Seattle, WA.
Duties
The team leader position carries a partial juvenile litigation caseload and supervises as many as five attorneys who also do juvenile litigation, appeals and other work. Duties include attorney-of-the-day coverage on juvenile court calendars, reviewing referrals for legal sufficiency, reviewing discovery, interviewing witnesses and otherwise preparing for trial, writing and responding to motions and providing case-specific advice to client agency social workers. There may be opportunities for additional activities, such as licensing and other administrative cases, appellate work, training and participation in practice improvement projects.

Supervisory responsibilities include training, coaching and mentoring attorneys of varying experience levels, evaluating attorney performance, supporting professional development and shared oversight responsibility for weekly case assignments, workload distribution and coverage of 11-12 calendars per week. In addition, this position actively participates in division leadership, attending regular meetings, assisting with the development and implementation of operational processes, and monitoring progress in achieving divisional goals. This position also meets regularly with our client agencies to provide training, consult on case-related issues and address operational issues.

The position is located in downtown Seattle and court appearances are in downtown Seattle, the Central District of Seattle and Kent. Appearances may be in-person or via Zoom, depending on the type of hearing. This is a fast-paced, high-volume practice characterized by unpredictable schedules, highly emotional situations and emergent issues. The high-stakes, emergent nature of this work means that advice and representation often occur under significant pressure. This work is of critical importance and can be immensely satisfying.
The staff of the division, all of whom are talented, dedicated, compassionate and highly collegial, serve an essential role in the protection of the state's most vulnerable people.

Qualifications
In addition to meeting the requirements to serve as a Managing Assistant Attorney General, the successful candidate should have the following:

Solid understanding of child welfare law and practice, as well as the ability to stay current with frequent legislative, case law and policy changes;
Juvenile or related trial experience and excellent trial skills;
Exceptional communication skills, including approachability, active listening skills and outstanding writing and oral advocacy skills;
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships within the division and with the court, client agencies and other stakeholders;
Ability to proactively identify problems, propose pragmatic solutions, and follow through on implementation;
Ability to multi-task and stay highly organized while managing an active caseload as well as supervisory responsibilities;
Ability to deal with an emotionally difficult subject matter, and to direct reports cope with stressful situations;
Patience, sensitivity and discretion to address performance and personnel issues;
Flexibility and ability to quickly adapt to changing situations; and
Commitment to public interest law, ability to be a team player and ability to foster a positive and inclusive working environment.

Applicants must have graduated from a law school accredited by the ABA or completed the WSBA's Rule 6 Law Clerk Program; and be licensed to practice law in Washington state. (Applicants who meet the other stated qualifications and are actively pursuing admission by motion will also be considered.) The AGO seeks applicants who are committed to public service as demonstrated by an applicant's background, talents, attitude, and enthusiasm for public law practice. The AGO greatly encourages, celebrates and values diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfill its mission of providing excellent, independent and ethical legal services to the State of Washington and protecting the rights of its people.

Supplemental Information
This Managing Assistant Attorney General 1 position is represented by the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) / Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) AFSCME Council 28, AFL-CIO. MAAG1 salaries are set between $88,056 and $164,940. This position is located in King County and is thus eligible for 5% King County Assignment Pay. The exact amount is set in accordance with Appendix B of the AWAAG CBA. A competitive state benefits package is also offered which includes a choice of medical/dental insurance plans, retirement, life and basic long-term disability insurance. In addition, there are non-financial benefits that include working in a collaborative and supportive work environment where professional development and work-life balance are highly valued. The health, safety and professional satisfaction of all AGO staff and volunteers is critical to fulfilling the mission of the AGO to provide exceptional legal services. Complementing and fostering this goal is a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced in the AGO's environmental policies.

Note: In accordance with WAC 162-12-140, the AGO will conduct permissible pre-employment inquiries of preferred candidates, to include the completion of a criminal conviction screening questionnaire.
Interested applicants must apply by hitting the "apply" button above. In addition to the on-line application, one must upload, via the system and preferably as PDFs:

A letter of interest;
Resume;
Law school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable) showing the date law degree was conferred; and
Writing sample (10 pages or less).

If you have questions about this position and/or want to learn more about it before applying, please contact Division Chief Zachary Brown at zachary.brown@atg.wa.gov or (206)-587-5097.

State of Washington

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